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Sexual Health of Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States (Mar 28, 2013)

The share of adolescents engaging in sexual activity has declined over the past few decades. Despite the growing attention to prevention and health education, recent data indicate that the rates of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STI) remain higher for young adults than older adults and higher than the rates in most developed nations. This fact sheet provides key data on sexual activity, pregnancy, contraceptive use, prevalence of STIs among teenagers and young adults, and access to reproductive health services.

HIV/AIDS Trends Among Youth and Young Adults

CDC FACT SHEET: Incidence, Prevalence, and Cost of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the United States

The Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health (ICAH) is an adolescent sexual health advocacy organization located in Chicago, Illinois.[1] Founded in 1977 as the Illinois Caucus on Teenage Pregnancy, the organization has accomplished much in the fields of adolescent welfare, workforce development, health, and parenting.

Mission
ICAH envisions a world in which all young adults use their power to achieve health and well-being in their own lives and for their communities. In partnership with youth, ICAH advocates sound policies and practices that promote a positive approach to adolescent sexual health and parenting.

ICAH believes reproductive justice is an integral part of a broader human rights framework. Reproductive justice work must align with other social justice movements to address the multi-layered impact of oppression on at-risk youth. In all of their projects, ICAH focuses on serving marginalized adolescent groups, including low-income, immigrant, homeless, LGBTQI, and pregnant and parenting youth.

ICAH believes reproductive freedom for adolescents must encompass the choice to prevent pregnancy and disease with sexual health care information and services; to terminate a pregnancy through safe, accessible, legal abortion; and to bring a pregnancy to term and parent.